Schedule, lifestyle, fitness

[BAT31]

Sounds good at NJA for that type of thing. I don't know if that would go at Flex. Convincing the Texas boys that you want a leave of absence for a bike race would probably be like talking to a brick wall, but I haven't tried it ....... so who knows.

Interestingly, I do know that our new CP had to actually write a letter to an owner and explain that even though the owner's pilots that day were obese, they probably would not drop dead in flight from a heart attack. So yes, your physical appearance does play a role on the job. The owner was actually concerned enough to take the time to contact the boss. Wow.

 

[realityman]

Len,

Glad to hear you're looking after your physical fitness as well as everything else (too many pilots obsess over checkrides, training, company policies, etc... and forget that you can be God's gift to aviation and it won't matter at all if they lose their medical).

I run marathons. Not as much as I'd like anymore due to marriage and a kid on the way, but as far as the running goes, it fits in well with the NJA lifestyle. Almost every hotel we stay at has at least a decent treadmill. Yeah, a couple have crappy treadmills, but they're few and far between. And of course, many places you can just run outside. If you're serious about your fitness, I imagine you have no problem running outside in the cold as well as the heat. Personally, I enjoy a nice quiet run on the backroads while a pleasant snow is falling.

I will repeat what others have said, if you're serious about your training, you'll find the time to train. I'm currently training for the Pittsburgh marathon. I've put together a training program I think will get me to the starting line and be able to finish in under 3 hours. On my last day of my last tour, the only time I had to run was at 0345 in the morning (needed to get an hour of running in). So guess where I was at 0345? Down in the workout room on the treadmill.

There is a caveat though. Always remember that while on the road, the job comes first. If you have a schedule where you'll need to be rested (maybe scheduled for a 14-hour day after you just flew a 14-hour day) you may have to forego the workout in order to be properly rested for your trips. This has happened to me on more than one occasion. But it doesn't happen every day, and doesn't seem to have much of an impact on my training because the rest of my training is pretty regular.

Good luck with the racing!! Oh, if you're looking for a great marathon to run sometime, try Chicago. I may be back there myself in '09. But I've already run it 6 times.

 

[gunfyter]

Len,
. If you're serious about your fitness, I imagine you have no problem running outside in the cold as well as the heat. Personally, I enjoy a nice quiet run on the backroads while a pleasant snow is falling..

How was the snow for the Antartica marathon?

 

[NJAowner]

NJA pilot in the X ... Won (As in came in first) the Antartica Marathon. Yeah he posts here too (a lot).

Diesel -- My belated congratulations!!!

Fly safe.

 

["v"]

This 7 days on followed by 7 days off schedule sounds great!

I'm thinking about getting a personal trainers certification and I'm training for a marathon in october next year. It would be great to train in the weeks off.

Anyone know of any other companies apart from NJ, CS or XO that run these schedules??

Thanks all!

V

 

["v"]

By the way -

has anyone done the portland marathon??

V

 

[realityman]

How was the snow for the Antartica marathon?

LOL!! Actually, due to a warmer than normal summer down there, maybe you should have asked me how the MUD was for the Antarctic marathon!! Absolutely amazing place to go for a nice long run in though. Never done anything like it since. 1/2 a mile straight up a glacier, twice, on that course. Real lung-buster!

V, I've run the Portland marathon (assuming you're referring to Portland, Oregon). One of the best organized races I've participated in. Mostly very nice scenery. Great support. Really neat finisher's medals, plus you get a rose, and a tree sapling to plant. Fairly flat. One challenging uphill around mile 16 as you climb about 200 feet to cross a bridge over the Willamette. Great views across the bridge. I'd love to run that one again. But if you want a real challenge, look into the Crater Lake Rim Run in Oregon, run in August. Hint for this one: do at least some training at altitude! ;-)

 

[thunderworm]

len- is your bike the p2c or the p3c both are great rides. i have trianed for 2 ironmans and 4 marathons and other bike races all while having a 8 on 9 off schedule. it is not easy and you get frusterated when you are not able to keep a training schedule. i make mine very flexable and that takes the stress off of that part. i always pack my running shoes and googles with me as there is almost always a pool nerby. although sometimes the pool at the hotels is quite small and it is ridiculous to swim in a 20yrd pool but at least i can keep the dust off. i don't even bother with the crapy stationary bike in hotels as i do not want to hurt my knees doing those. most hotels have partnerships with reasonable gyms nerby even if they don't advertise this just ask. if anything i use the work as an excuse to get some rest in and concentrate on real quality wokouts when i am at home. always great to hear form other enthusiats who fly.

 

[Len]

Thunder- I'm a cat 3 road and cyclocross racer like bank & yank. I originally asked about tri's and marathons because the time commitment is similar for training. I can break legs on the bike but can't get out of my own way running! The bike is a Soloist Carbon but I sold it when Trek gave my race team a bike deal (Madone 5.5's). Some guy in Oregon is enjoying the Soloist now.I also have a Cervelo P3SL aluminium TT bike with Blackwell Research 100s wheels which I won the GA state cat 3 TT last with year, a Gary fisher Superfly mtn bike and a Lemond Poprad 'cross bike.

Someone said something about they were glad to see someone who watched out for their fitness... I say that if I weren't so competitive I'd be fat and on the couch! I could care less about fitness, I just want to win. Thats why I was asking about the training opportunities with the typical fractional schedule. Since I've been recently laid off, I was just wondering if you could maintain a reasonable training schedule while doing the job.

I don't post very often, it was cool to see all the replies. Its nice to see other pilots are out there killin' it!

 

["v"]

yep, portland oregon is the one.

I'm really looking forward to my FIRST marathon...... yikes.

How was the weather??

V

 

[realityman]

yep, portland oregon is the one.

I'm really looking forward to my FIRST marathon...... yikes.

How was the weather??

V

The weather was actually very nice for marathon running. Cool and dry.

First marathon? Run conservatively, and train exactly like you're going to run. Should make for a good first marathon for you.

Good luck!

 

[Flex-ible]

Len-

I found it tough to train properly with the Flexjet schedule, granted its not as good as NJ. I actually made sure to schedule my mil leave for this summer just so I could spend most of my training days here at altitude.

On the road, I just run, which doesn't do much for my mtn biking (primary race focus), and try to stay away from the hotel bar and food.

I think the biggest factor is working to make sure you make the big race dates. Scheduling your time off is very hard at Flex. Getting home from a trip at 9 pm and trying to race the next day is tough. It takes alot of prior planning and a wife that knows how to set out your race kit.

Good luck on your racing. And like most here have said, if you want to find the time, you will. At the least, you won't turn into one of those "big boys" sitting at the computer at the FBO.

Flex offers "PRS days" although the rules about them are about as clear as super-secret double probation. As I understand it, if you have a wedding, graduation, or Marine Corps Marathon scheduled ask your crew scheduler in advance to mark the day(s) as off limits in PBS. As long a you don't ask too many times, you can get it.

Doesn't help with the training - but at least you will get to the start line.

(Oh, and I am a member of the Navy 3 Mile Club!)

 

[illinipilot]

I ran the Portland marathon in 2006 just after I started at NJA. It was my first and a very good experience.

IP

 

[RNObased]

I won the GA state cat 3 TT last with year, a Gary fisher Superfly mtn bike and a Lemond Poprad 'cross bike.

Someone said something about they were glad to see someone who watched out for their fitness... I say that if I weren't so competitive I'd be fat and on the couch! I could care less about fitness, I just want to win. Thats why I was asking about the training opportunities with the typical fractional schedule. Since I've been recently laid off, I was just wondering if you could maintain a reasonable training schedule while doing the job.

I don't post very often, it was cool to see all the replies. Its nice to see other pilots are out there killin' it!

As a former CAT 3 road racer and expert class mountain bike racer. (Got into road riding as a way to train for mountain bike racing).
I went and looked at my training schedule and think it would be very hard to do the training schedule I used to do flying for NJA. You could always try though.

 

[av8trinabarrel]

I was doing the Xterra thing for a few years and found that I could get my run and a pseudo swim accomplished at the hotel. Most hotels have a pretty pathetic pool. Jumping in and treading water at a medium pace for 45 minutes and then heading out to the road for 45 minutes was enough too hold me over until I got home. You may get a few funny stares from people treading water for an hour, but it gets the job done. If you are creative and motivated, you can do it.